
Class ^LTA 
Book'^JLB_ 



AN 



ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, 



INCORPORATED, OCTOBER 24th, lu:. 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY* 



" Primaque ab origine Mundi 
Ad mea perpetuum deducite tempora carmen. 



BOSTON : 
PUBLISHED BY ISAIAH THOMAS, JUN. 

/November — 1813. 



AN ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



AMERICAN ANTIQUATITAN SOCIP^TY. 



AT a stated meeting of the American Anti- 
quarian Society, September 29, 1813, a com- 
mittee was appointed to draw up an account of the 
nature of the Institution, with a detailed statement of 
its objects, for the purpose of pubHcation, together 
with the petition to the Legislature for an Act of In- 
corporation, the Act of Incorporation, Bye Laws, he. 

The Committee having attended to that duty, pre- 
sented to the Society their Report, which was read 
and accepted, and is as follows : 

THE great benefits arising to the civilized world 
from associations of individuals for promoting knowl- 
edge, industry, or virtue, are universally acknowledged. 
It is an obvious truth, that men, without regard to na- 
tion, sect, or party, by united exertions in one general 
pursuit, may effect more in a few years, than could be 
accomplished, individually, in ages. They are so con- 
stituted by nature, that " human actions, and the 
events which befal human beings, have more power. 



ful influence than any other objects, to engage and fix 
their attention." We cannot obtain a knowledge of 
those, who are to come after us, nor are we certain 
what will be the events of future times ; as it is in 
our power, so it should be our duty, to bestow on 
posterity that, which they cannot give to us, but which 
they may enlarge and improve, and transmit to those, 
who shall succeed them. — It is but paying a debt we 
owe to our forefathers. 

From combinations of this kind, the old continents, 
within the last century and an half, have received and 
diffused more light and useful information in the arts 
and sciences, and in the natural, civil and religious his- 
tory of the habitable globe, than had been exhibited to 
mankind for thousands of preceding years. 

The first society of scientific men among the mod- 
erns of which history gives us any certain information, 
was established near the close of the eighth century, by 
Charlemagne, at his imperial palace in France, by the 
recommendation of Alcuinus, one of the most learned 
men of the age. This society in time was productive 
of many others ; few, however, appeared, which were 
of great advantage to the publick, or gained a per- 
manent establishment, till the middle of the seventeenth 
century. Many literary and scientific institutions were 
then formed, and afterwards greatly increased and 
spread through the several quarters of the globe. We 
will take notice of that class only of those societies, 
which had the same object in view, as the one of which 
we are members. 



Irish historians have asserted, that " there was an an- 
cient college of antiquaries erected in Ireland by OUamh 
Fodhla, one of its kings, seven hundred years before 
Christ, for the purpose of composing a history of that 
country ;" and to this, say th»ey, " it is owing, that the 
history and antiquities of this kingdom may be traced 
back beyond that of most other nations." But the first 
society of Antiquaries, of which we have any authentic 
information, is that which originated in England ni 
1572, under the auspices of Archbishop Parker, Cam- 
den, Sir Robert Cotton, and others. Although it was 
not incorporated, its reputation gradually increased un- 
til the reign of James I, who, in turbulent times, 
*' fearing it might canvass the secret transactions of his 
government, suppressed it." It was revived in the year 
1717. From this time the importance of the society 
increased, and in 1751, it was incorporated by the name 
of " The President, Council and Fellows of the Soci- 
ety of Antiquaries" in England. " It is now in a ve- 
ry flourishing condition, consisting of many learned and 
ingenious men of the nobility, gentry and clergy, whose 
business, as members, is to discover the antiquities of 
their own, as well as of other nations." Their council, 
says Mr. Rees, " consists of twenty one persons, ten of 
whom are annually changed ; the election of members 
is by ballot, by a certificate signed by three or more 
fellows being previously exhibited for six ordinary suc- 
cessive meetings, except in the case of peers, members 
of the privy council and judges, who may be proposed 
by a single member and balloted for the same day ; 



and the choice is determined by a majority of two thirds. 
Every member pays an admission fee of five guineas 
and two guineas a year ; or, as an equivalent, a sum of 
twenty one guineas. They have weekly meetings. 
This society began to publish its discoveries in 1770, 
under the title of Archoeologia." 

An institution similar to that of the Antiquarian So- 
ciety in England, and for like purposes, was founded 
in Scotland in 1780, and received the royal charter in 
1803. 

There is a society of Antiquaries at Upsal in Sweden, 
which owes its rise to queen Christina, but its establish- 
ment to her successor, Charles Gustavus ; its design is 
to collect and illustrate the antiquities of that country, 
and the northern languages. Another was instituted at 
Copenhagen, in Denmark, in 1742 ; its immediate ob- 
ject is to make researches into, and explain the antiqui- 
ties and history of that country. It is patronized by the 
king. — An Academy of Antiquities exists at Cortona, 
in Italy, the members of which are very respectable, 
numerous, and not confined to that country. It was 
founded for the study, Sec. of the Hetrurian Antiquities ; 
the chief officer is called Lucumon, by which name the 
ancient governours of Italy are said to have been dis- 
tinguished. 

There are in Europe many other similar institutions ; 
all of which, having proper funds, have been very use^ 
ful. Many more for want of funds were of short du= 
ration. 



An institution of this kind was formed at Calcutta in 
the East Indies, called the Asiatic Society, by Sir 
William Jones, in 1784 ; the objects of which are the 
antiquities, history, arts, and literature of the continent 

of Asia. 

Among the numerous societies formed in the Unit- 
ed States for the promotion of literature, the useful 
and fine aits, and other valuable purposes, it appeared 
that one more might be added, which could also be 
truly beneficial, not only to the present, but particular- 
ly to future generations — a society not confined to lo- 
cal purposes— not intended for the particular advantage 
of any one state or section of the union, or for the ben- 
efit of a few individuals — one whose members may be 
found in every part of our western continent and its 
adjacent islands, and who are citizens of all parts of 
this quarter of the world. 

Should it be asked, what are the intended objects of 
this society ? — We will answer in the words of Sir 
William Jones to the members of the Asiatic Society, 
"Man and Nature — whatever is, or has been perform- 
ed by the one, or produced by the other." — '' Human 
knowledge," says he, " has been elegantly analysed 
according to the three great faculties of the mind, 
Memory, Reason and Imagination, which we con- 
stantly find employed in arranging and retaining, com- 
paring and distinguishing, combining and diversifying,, 
the ideas which we receive through our senses, or ac- 
quire by reflection ; hence the three main branches of 
Learning are History, Science and Art." 



The chief objects of the enquiries and researches 
of this society will be American ^Antiquities, natural, 
artificial and literary ; not, however, excluding those 
of other countries. It must be acknowledged that the 
study of Antiquity offers to the curious and inquisitive 
a large field for research, for sublime reflection, and for 
amusement. — Those who make enquiry, and those 
who make collections in this branch of science, " fur- 
nish the historian with his best materials, while he 
distinguishes from truth the fictions of a bold inven- 
tion, and ascertains the credibility of facts ; and to the 
philosopher he presents a faithful source of ingenious 
speculation, while he points out to him the way of 
thinking, and the manners of men, under all the varie- 
ties of aspect in which they have appeared." 

As all things, which are in their nature durable, if 
preserved from casualty and the ravages of time, in a 
course of years will become antique, it will be also 
an object of this society to deposit, from time to time, 
such modern productions as will denote to those who 
succeed us, the progress of literature, the arts, man- 
ners, customs and discoveries in our time wdth accu- 
racy. 

Thus by an attention to these objects, which the 
society hope to promote by the exertion of its mem- 
bers residing in various parts of this vast continent, 
the utility of the institution will speedily be realized, 
and it may in time vie with those of a similar kind 
in Europe, which are now so justly celebrated. 
Each individual of the Society, we persuade our- 



selves, will imbibe a belief, that its reputation, in a 
great degree depends on his individual efforts ; and 
will feel an interest in collecting and forwarding to 
the Librarian, the Secretaries, or to any officer of 
the Institution, such antiquities of our country, 
whether of nature or of art, as may be portable, and 
which he can obtain ; and authentic accounts of 
such as cannot be transported ; with such articles 
of modern date, as are curious and interesting, and 
will tend to aid the purposes of the establishment. — 
Justice will be done to the donor — his name will 
live on the records. 

Among the articles of deposit, books of every de- 
scription, including pamphlets and magazines, es- 
pecially those which were early printed either in 
South or in North America ; files of Newspapers 
of former times, or of the present day, are particular- 
ly desirable — as are specimens, with written ac- 
counts respecting them, of fossils, handicrafts of the 
Aborigines, &c. Manuscripts, ancient and modern, 
on interesting subjects, particularly those which 
give accounts of remarkable events, discoveries, or 
the description of any part of the continent, or the 
islands in the American seas ; maps, charts, &c. 

The decline as well as the rise of nations is in the 
course of nature — ^like causes will produce like ef- 
fects — and, in some distant period, a decline may be 
the state of our country. A depository like this, 
may not onjy retard the ravages of time, but preserve 
from other causes of destruction, many precious 
2 



10 

relics of antiquity, many specimens of the work pf 
nature, and those of modern art, which once lost 
could never be restored. 

For the better preservation from the destruction 
so often experienced in large towns and cities by 
fire, as well as from the ravages of an enemy, to 
which seaports in particular are so much exposed 
in times of war, it is universally agreed, that for a 
place of deposit for articles intended to be preserv- 
ed for ages, and of which many, if destroyed, or 
carried away, could never be replaced by others of 
the like kind, an inland situation is to be preferred ; 
this consideration alone was judged sufficient for 
placing the Library and Museum of this Society 
forty miles distant from the nearest branch of the 
sea, in the town of Worcester, Massachusetts, on 
the great road from all the southern and western 
states to Boston, the capital of New England. 

It is almost needless to observe, that a society of 
this kind cannot be supported with any degree of 
respectability or usefulness without funds — dona- 
tions, legacies, contributions, and royal patronage, 
are the support of those in Europe, and have raised 
them to a state of eminence — and, it is not doubted 
that there are persons in America, who are as public 
spirited as those in Europe, by whose aid this soci- 
ety will be enabled to pursue those researches, so 
desirable, into the antiquities of our country — to 
make valuable collections of them, and of other ar- 
ticles proper for this institution, and to deposit them 



11 



in a suitable, permanent building, which it is intend- 
ed shall soon be erected for their safe keeping; 
where they may at all times be found, and be, not 
only pleasing, but useful to the members of histori- 
cal, philosophical, and, perhaps, of other societies, as 
well as to individuals. 

ISAIAH THOMAS, per order. 
Worcester, October^ 1813. 



PETITION to the LEGISLATURE. October, 1813. 

To the Hojimirable Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in General Court 
assembled. 

THE subscribers influenced by a desire to con- 
tribute to the advancement of the Arts and Sciences 
and to aid, by their individual and united efforts, 
in collecting and preserving such materials as may 
be useful in making their progress, not only in the 
United States, but in other parts of the globe, and 
wishing also to assist the researches of the future 
historians of our country, respectfully represent to 
the legislature, that, in their opinion, the establish- 
ment of an Antiquarian Society, within this Com- 
monwealth, would conduce essentially to the attain- 
ment of these objects. At present there is no pub- 
lic association for such purposes within the United 
States. The rapid progress of science, and of the 
useful and ornamental arts, in our country, may be 
ascribed in a great degree to the numerous public 



u 



institutions originated by patriotic individuals, but 
deriving their countenance and support from legis- 
lative authority. Such a society as is now contem- 
plated, as its objects are essentially distinct from 
any other in our country, it is believed, may advan* 
tageously cooperate with, without in the slightest 
degree impairing the utility of other institutions ; its 
immediate and pecuHar design is, to discover the 
antiquities of our own continent ; and, by providing a 
fixed and permanent place of deposit, to preserve 
such relics of American antiquity as are portable, 
as well as to collect and preserve those of other 
parts of the globe. By the long and successful la- 
bours of the College of Antiquaries in Ireland, their 
historians, it is said, have been enabled to trace the 
history of that country to an earlier period than that 
of any other nation of Europe. The researches of 
a similar society in England established at a later 
period, at times discouraged, but now aided and 
fostered by the patronage of the government, have 
not merely furnished food for curiosity, but have 
provided many valuable materials for the benefit of 
history, the improvement of science, and the ad- 
vancement of the arts of life. Almost every nation 
indeed of the European world bears witness to the 
utility of similar institutions. To the enlightened 
Legislature of Massachusetts the Subscribers do 
not deem it necessary to exhibit more in detail the 
advantages, which may be expected from such an es- 
tablishment within this Commonwealth^ — They ask 



13 

for no other aid from the Commonwealth, than the 
flicilities which, in the pursuit of their objects, may- 
accrue from an Act of Incorporation. As an in- 
ducement to the grant of these privileges, they beg 
leave to state that one of their number is, at this 
time, in possession of a valuable collection of books 
obtained with great labour and expense, the value of 
which may be fairly estimated at about five thou- 
sand dollars, some of them more ancient than are to 
be found in any other part of our country, and all of 
which he intends to tranfer to the proposed society, 
should their project receive the sanction and encour- 
agement of the Legislature. This grant which is 
designed as the foundation of a superstructure to be 
hereafter erected, with such other conditions as may- 
be reasonably expected, the subscribers believe will 
ensure the future growth and prosperity of the in- 
stitution. 

As no injury can at any rate be apprehended 
from such an experiment, even if it should prove 
unsuccessful, and as it may be productive of much 
public advantage, the petitioners flatter themselves 
their project will not be discountenanced by the 
government of Massachusetts. 

They therefore respectfully pray for leave to bring 
in a bill for the incorporation of themselves, and 
such persons as may hereafter associate with them, 
into a Society by the name of the American An- 
tiquarian Society, with the privilege of hold- 
ing real estate in perpetuity of the annual value of 



14 

fifteen hundred dollars, and with such other privi- 
leges and immunities as are usually granted by acts 
of incorporation to other public societies established 
within this Commonwealth. 

ISAIAH THOMAS, 
JN^ATH'L PAINE, 
WM. PAINE, 
LEVI LINCOLN, 
AARON BANCROFT, 
EDWD BANGS. 

Sec'ry's Office^ 7 A true copy of the petition on 
Dec, Sd 1812. 5 ^^^ '^^ this office. 
^ttestf 

ALDEN BRADFORD, Sec'ry Commonmalth, 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

In the year of our Lord 07ie thousand eight hundred and twelve. 



An Act to incorporate the American Antic^ua- 
RiAN Society. 

WHEREAS the collection and preservation of the 
antiquities of our country, and of curious and val- 
uable productions in Art and Nature, have a ten- 
dency to enlarge the sphere of human knowledge, aid 
the progress of science, to perpetuate the history of 
moral and political events, and to improve and inter- 
est posterity. 



15 

Therefore, 

Sec. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives in General Court assembled, and 
by the authority of the same, that Isaiah Thomas, 
Levi Lincoln, Harrison G. Otis, Timothy Bigelow, 
Nathaniel Paine, Edward Bangs, Esqrs. John T. 
Kirkland, L. L. D. Aaron Bancroft, D. D. Jona- 
than H. Lyman, Elijah H. Mills, Elisha Hammond, 
Timothy Williams, William D. Peck, John Lowell, 
Edmund D wight, Eleazer James, Josiah Quincy, 
William S. Shaw, Francis Blake, Levi Lincoln, Jr. 
Samuel M. Burnside and Benjamin Russell, Esqs. 
Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris, Redford Webster, 
Thomas Walcut, Ebenezer T. Andrews, Isaiah 
Thomas, Jr. William Wells, and such others as may 
associate with them for the purposes aforesaid, be, 
and hereby are formed into and constituted a society, 
and body politic and corporate, by the name of 
the American Antiquarian Society ; and that they 
and their successors, and such other persons as 
shall be legally elected by them, shall be, and con- 
tinue a body politic and corporate, by thajt name 
forever. 

Sec IL Be it further enacted, that the mem- 
bers of said Society shall have power to elect a Pres- 
ident, Vice Presidents, and such other officers as they 
may determine to be necessary ; and that the said So- 
ciety shall have one common seal, and the same may 
break, change and renew at pleasure, and that the. 



16 

same society, by the name aforesaid, as a body politic 
and corporate, may sue and be sued, prosecute and 
defend suits to final judgment and execution. 

Sec. III. Be it further enacted^ that the said 
society shall have power to make orders and by-laws 
for governing its members and property, not repug- 
nant to the laws of this Commonwealth, and may 
expel, disfranchise, or suspend any member who by 
misconduct shall be rendered unworthy. 

Sec. IV. Be it further enacted^ that said society 
may, from time to time, establish rules for electing 
officers and members, and also times and places for 
holding meetings, and shall be capable to take and hold 
real or personal estate by gift, grant, devise, or oth- 
erways, and the same or any part thereof, to alien 
and convey ; provided, that the annual income of 
any real estate by said society holden shall never ex- 
ceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and that the 
personal estate thereof, exclusive of books, papers 
and articles in the museum of said society, shall 
never exceed the value of seven thousand dollars. 

Sec V. Be it further enacted^ that said soci- 
ety may elect honorary members residing in, and 
without, the limits of this Commonwealth. And 
that Isaiah Thomas, Esq. be, and hereby is author- 
ized and empowered to notify and warn the first 
meeting of said society ; and that the said society, 
when met, shall agree upon a method for calling 
future meetings, and have power to adjourn, from 
time to time, as may be found necessary. 



17 

Sec. VI. Be it further enacted, that the Libra- 
ry and Museum of said society shall be kept in the 
town of Worcester, in the county of Worcester. 

In the House of Representatives, October 23, 1812. Thi^ 
bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted. 

TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker, 

In Senate, October 24, 1 8 1 2. This bill having had two sev- 
eral readings passed to be enacted. 

SAMUEL DANA, President. 

Oetober 24th, 1812.7 CALEB STRONG. 

Approved, 3 

Secretary's Office, Nov; 2, 1812. 
A true copy, Attest, 

ALDEN BRADFORD, Sec'ry Cmnmonrvealth. 



NOTIFICATION AND WARNING 
To the Members Incorporated to attend the first meeting* 

American Society of Antiquaries. 

WHEREAS by an Act of the Legislature of this 
Commonweahh, passed October 24, 1812, Isaiah 
Thomas, Levi Lincoln, H. G. Otis, Timothy Bige- 
low, Nathaniel Paine and Edward Bangs, Esqrs. J. 
T. Kirkland, D. D. Aaron Bancroft, D. D. Wil- 
liam Paine, M.D. Jonathan H. Lyman, Elijah H. 
Mills, Elijah Hammond, Timothy Williams, Wil- 
liam D. Peck, John Lowell, Edmund Dwight, Elea- 
3 



zer James, Josiah Quincy, William S. Shaw, Fran- 
cis Blake, Levi Lincoln, Jun. Samuel M. Burnside 
and Benjamin Russell, Esqrs. Rev. Thaddeus M» 
Harris, Redford Webster, Thomas Walcutt, Eben- 
ezer T. Andrews, William Weils, and Isaiah Thom- 
as, Jun. and such others as may associate with them 
for the purposes therein mentioned, were " formed 
into, and constituted a Society, and body politic and 
corporate, by the name of " T/ie American A7itu 
quarian Society ^"^^ for the purposes therein specified. 
And whereas, by the fifth section of said Act, the 
undersigned is " authorised and empowered to noti- 
fy and warn the first meeting of said Society," there- 
fore, in conformity thereto, he hereby notifies and 
warns each and every of the persons above named to 
meet at the Exchange Coffee House in Boston, on 
Thursday the 19th day of November instant, at 11 
o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to take such 
measures as shall be necessary for organizing said 
Society, establishing such Rules and Regulations as 
shall be deemed expedient, " agree upon a method 
for calling future meetings," and to act upon any 
other matter or thing relating to the objects of said 

institution. 

ISAIAH THOMAS. 

Worcester, November 2, 1812. 

The members met at the time and place appoint- 
ed, and the Society was organized. 



19 



LAWS 



OF THE 



AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 



Article I. 
THERE shall be a President and two Vice Presidents. It 
shall be the duty of the President, and in his absence, of one of 
the Vice Presidents, to preside in the meetings, and to regulate 
the debates of the Society and the Council ; to call meetings of the 
Council, and extraordinary meetings of the Society by advice of 
Council. The President, or presiding officer, shall vote in coun- 
cil, and also have a casting vote. The Vice Presidents shall ex 
officio be members of the Council. 

Article II. 
There shall be seven Counsellors, exclusive of the President 
and Vice Presidents ; any four of the Avhole number shall consti- 
tute a quorum. It shall be the duty of the Counsellors to direct 
the Corresponding Secretaries in the performance of their duty ; 
to present to the Society for their acceptance, such regulations 
and by-laws as from time to time shall be thought expedient ; to 
receive donations, and with the President to purchase, sell or 
lease, for the benefit of the Society, real or personal estate ; to 
draw orders on the Treasury for necessary monies; and in gene- 
ral to manage the prudentials of the Society. It shall be the du- 
ty of the Council, to enquire concerning the characters of persons 



20 

living out of the Commonwealth, proper to be elected hoQpur-' 
arj members ; particularly in Spanish America. 

Article III. 
There ehall be one Recording Secretary ; and one assistant 
Recording Secretary ; and two Corresponding Secretaries, 
The Recording Secretary shall be the Keeper of the Seal of the 
Society. It shall be his duty to attend all meetings of the Soci- 
ety and Council, and to make and keep records of all their pro- 
ceedings ; and shall keep on file all literary papers belonging to 
the Society under the direction of the Coimcik It shall be the 
duty of the Corresponding Secretaries to receive and read all 
communications made to the Society ; and to manage, under the 
clirection of the Council, all the correspondence of the Society. 

Article IV. 
There shall be a Treasurer, who shall give such security as 
the President and Council shall require, for the faithful perform- 
ance of his trust. It shall be his duty to receive and keep all 
monies and evidences of property belonging to the Society ; to 
pay out to the order of the President and Council ; to keep a 
record of his receipts and payments, exhibit the same, and settle 
v.ith a Committee which shall be annually appointed for this 
purpose ; and he shall put the money of the Society out to inter- 
est, under the direction of the Council. 

Article V. 

There shall be a Librarian and Cabinet Keeper, who shall 
give bonds to the satisfaction of tlie President and Council for the 
faithful performance of his trust. He shall receive, and have in 
his custody, all books, papers, productions of nature and works 
of art, the property of the Society. These he shall arrange iu 
classes and register in a book, with a proper description of each 
article, with the donor's name, when the same shall be a present. 
]S"o article shall ever on any occasion be loaned or taken from 



21 

the Museum ; nor shall any book or other article be borrowed 
from the Library, except by a vote of the Council, and then tlie 
loan of such article shall be recorded, and a receipt given there- 
for by the borrower, engaging to return the same in four weeks, 
or puy a forfeiture, such as by a vote of the Council shall be af- 
fixed. 

Article VI. 
There shall annually be three meetings of the Society, viz. — 
one in Boston on the twenty second day of December, and when 
the same shall fall on a Sabbath, then the day after; one in Bos- 
ton on the first Wednesday in June ; and one in Worcester on 
the Wednesday ne\t after the fourth Tuesday of September, at 
such hours and places as shall be notified by the Secretary. At 
the annual meeting in Boston in December, shall be chosen by 
ballot, all the ofTicers of the Society to serve during the follow- 
ing year, and until others are chosen. At this meeting a public 
oration shall be deli\^ered by some person to be appointed by the 
Council. [The last section of this law is altered. The Oration 
is to he delivered annually on the 23d of October.'] 

Article VII. 
At any meeting of the Society , any member may propose a 
candidate for admission, by writing the name of the candidate, 
with his own name, in a book to be kept by the Recording Secre- 
tary for that purpose; and at the next meeting such candidate 
may be balloted for, and on obtaining two thirds of the votes 
given in, shall be constituted a member. 

CXyti^^-^K u^ Article VIII. A^-^^^ 

Each member shall annually pay into the hands of the Treas- 
urer, at the meeting in December, two dollars towards a fund ; 
and every person who shall neglect to pay the annual tax, and 
shall suffer himself to be in arrear for three annual taxes, after 
having been called upon by the Treasurer in person, or by writ- 



22 

ten order, shall be considered as having abdicated his interest in 
the Society and no longer a member. 

Article IX. 
All meetings, standing or special, shall be notified by the Re- 
cording Secretary, under the direction of the President and 
Council, in one newspaper published in Boston, and one in Wor- 
cester, fourteen days previous to the day of the meeting ; in 
which notification, the hour and place of the meeting shall be 
designated. 

Article X. 
In case of the death, resignation, incapacity or removal out of 
the State of eitlier of the Secretaries, or the Treasurer, or Li- 
brarian, the Council sliall take charge of the official books, pa- 
pers and effects belonging to the vacated office, giving receipts 
for tlie same, wliich books, &c. they may deliver to some per- 
son, whom they may appoint to fill the office until the next 
meeting of the society, when there shall be a new choice. 



BY-LAWS. 

At a Meeting of the Society on the 25d of October, 
1813, at the Exchange Coffee House in Boston, 
the following By-Laws were reported and ac- 
cepted, viz. 

I. THE ballots for the election of officers, and for the ad- 
mission of members, shall be collected by a committee chosen by 
nomination, who shall assort and count the votes, and make re- 
port to the presiding officer, and he shall declare the result to 
the Society. 

II. Every member who shall advance twenty dollars to the 
funds, shall be excused paying the annual tax of two dollars. 



23 

III. Every new member shall be notified of his election by 
a printed letter signed by the Recording Secretary. 

IV. The Secretary shall record, in a book for this purpose, 
the name of the members, and the times of their admission. 

V. All books and other articles belonging to the society shall 
be appraised, and the price of each article shall be mentioned in 
the catalogue. 

VI. A correct copy of the catalogue of books and other ar- 
ticles shall be made out by the librarian and cabinet keeper, or 
by a committee chosen by the society for this purpose, which 
copy sliall be kept by the president for the time being. And, as 
additions are made to the library and museum, they shall be en- 
tered on the catalogue and on the copy thereof. 

VII. Every deed to which the common seal of the Society 
is affixed, shall be passed and sealed in Council, signed by the 
President, and attested by the Secretary. 

VIII. There shall be a temporary place of deposit in Bos- 
ton, and in such other places as the Council shall hereafter di- 
rect, for the convenience of those who may be disposed to present 
to the Society any articles for its library or museum. Every ar- 
ticle so deposited, shall, as soon after as circumstances will per- 
mit, be forwarded to the library and museum in Worcester. 

*^* In conformity to this article, a temporary place of deposit 
is provided in Bosi'9n, at No, 6, Marlborough Street; where 
any thing left for the society will be received, and carefully at- 
tended to, by I. THOMAS, Jun. 



AT a stated meeting of the Society holden in Boston at the Ex^ 
change Coffee House, June 2, 1813. 
VOTED, that the 6th article of the laws be so far altered, as 
that the Oration contemplated therein to be delivered on the 



'w 



24 

22d of December, aonually, be delivered on the 23d day of 
October, the day on which America was discovered by CotuM- 

BUS. 



AT a meeting of the Society, at the Exchange Coffee House, in 
Boston, October 23d, 1813. 

VOTED, that the 7th article of the laws be so far altered, as 
that all nominations for members, shall hereafter be submitted 
to a committee of three, for their approbation ; and, if approved 
by said committee, the names of the candidates, with the names of 
the members who proposed said candidates, shall then be enter- 
ed in the book of nominations, and the candidates may be ballot- 
ted for at the next meeting of the Society. 



